Canadian Adventure

My final week, my wonderful class, my amazing school.

2011-12-16T20:13:00.000-08:00

The staff enjoyed dining together today, or should I say feasting, on some very tasty lasagne from Don Diego's and some delicious fruit crumble thanks to Stephanie.

Gloria and I dried our tears and posed for one last photo :(

Keisha bought a Christmas cake to share with the class. Her and Kianna enjoyed helping me cut the cake.

Of course what's a good bye without a class pizza party.

Those that came today posed for a few shots. This is Kristian.

Kianna, Gurleen and Keisha.

Juan, Douglas, Mike, Nik, Zachary, Elijah and Jagdeep.

Emma P and Emma H.

Nisha and Lillian.

Jailene and Eileen.

Mikayla and Rian.

Tylene and Oshan.

My farewell cake created by Mikayla's mother.

Even on the last day the students were expected to work :) We completed our charcoal drawings of a lantern which look amazing.

What's charcoal drawings without some charcoal on your face!

The final art pieces hanging in the classroom, they look quite spectacular.

Until we meet again, what an amazing adventure!

SEE YOU ALL SOON...My party at Mary & Kelly's

2011-12-11T15:40:00.001-08:00

Saturday December 10th was my "Made new friends" party at Mary & Kelly's. A farewell as one would say with my new friends from Suwilaawks Community School.

Codi and Rob enjoying each others company...well at least Rob seems to be enjoying himself.

Mary was up for a pose with Codi.

I was really happy to see that not only Amber but Gaylon made to the evening.

The men seemed to have something pulling them toward the kitchen, possibly the alcohol. Richard, Rob and Kelly seemed to of made themselves quite comfortable in this room.

The ladies bantering.

Jody, Chris and Laura added some more energy to the gathering.

A mother and daughter moment, what a cute kid I have :)

The Aussies will be proud to see the stolen NZ pavlova sitting on the table. I'm sure Wayne, Lynn and Stephanie were eyeing it off at some stage throughout the evening.

Slowly some of the ladies steered their way into the kitchen to hang out with the men.

Reiny and Marg were unable to make it so we opened their gift from me to show everyone as I was so excited I just couldn't wait...hope you like it Reiny & Marg :) Your axe is with Mary!

Colleagues and their partners turned up to help with the celebration.

A moment of silence from the company I was keeping and I took over handing out some quirky gifts for the all to remember me by. Enjoy!

Still talking....how unusual.

Someone mentioned these would make great oven mitts back in Australia.

Another gift from the staff, the symbols mean the healing hands.

One of many group photos.

There were a lot of people in the house.

Rob showing signs of aging and looking quite tired.

Karen was unable to make it to the event but surprisingly dropped in on us the following day. She had a gorgeous bear called Kodie the Kermode to give to Codi. A great reminder of her time her in Terrace.

Forty in Florida

2011-11-16T13:50:00.001-08:00

My birthday started a week early with a surprise celebration at Suwilaawks. Looking quite young for 40 wouldn't you say!

It pays to have your birthday in Canada. I had a lovely cake with an image of home, what more can an Aussie hope for :)

Remembrance Day had us flying from Vancouver to Orlando, Florida. Looking for a change in temperature and pace, both of which we got in bucket loads.

The Embassy Suites in Orlando was just the place for us to rejuvenate after a long day at the theme parks. I wouldn't recommend the sofa bed with its spiral springs massaging you all night, but other than that it was just right.

Codi, Rob and Megan, on the Disney bus.

The imagination ride had you using all of your senses.

We took a ferry ride over to the Magical Kingdom.

Codi and I thoroughly enjoyed the blue sky, warm sunshine rays and an environment similar to Brisbane....could make a person homesick if they didn't have just over a month to go :)

There was colour galore, from candy canes to characters.

Waiting in line wasn't so bad as they had interactive games everyone could play, which certainly helped to pass the time. Most of the rides had only a 10 or 5 minute wait so overall it was a great time to be there.

It's a small world bought back memories of Disneyland and our adventures there with our friend Michelle...missed you on this trip! Great visual displays for all to enjoy. From 6 to 60 as they would say.

The Magical Kingdom was just too much for some, or maybe it was the 10am till midnight action packed day.

The castle lit up throughout the night, changing colour every few minutes.

A driving lesson at Disney World was had cars bumping into each other around every corner.

I can confirm with absolute certainty that Poppy needs to give this granddaughter more driving lessons before she is let loose on any public road! This was a very scary ride for the passenger.

The shoot-out for Buzz Light year was next, Codi and Rob blitzed it with high scores. I shan't say who had the lowest score as it was quite embarrassing!

I felt that some people took the shoot-out way too seriously while others focused more on the enjoyment of the ride, which affected their scores.

Memories of Terrace even in Tomorrowland.

A shade of pink.

We enjoyed a firework show that went on for 15 minutes. Here are some snippets of what was on display.

The finale of the evening was a parade of all the Disney characters.

The next park to enjoy was Universal Studios with its Island of Adventures.

There were some fabulous roller coasters in these parks. The Superhero roller coasters definitely had you breathless many times as you twisted and twirled your way though the course.

The land of Harry Potter. The Dragon roller coasters in here were loads of fun and screams.

I found Universal much more colourful and visually stimulating than Disney World.

The Incredible Hulk ride was phenomenal and possibly the smoothest roller coaster I've ever been on.

What's a trip to the theme parks without some photos with the characters.

We just couldn't resist a turn on the Dr Seuss Merry- Go-Round.

Even Popeye and Olive had a place in this park.

What a roller coaster. Rise up at 90 degrees then scream your lungs out for about 45 seconds.

Christmas cheer is already at the parks.

Animal Kingdom had a great safari that went around the park. Much better than a zoo, the animals were in open spaces and not behind any visible cages.

All of these animals live together without bars or wires separating them. Ostrich eggs are in amongst them all.

Striking a pose.

We were entertained by Beauty and the Beast, a very well performed musical.

From the Beast to the Mermaid, the young at heart were entertained.

This was the closest that I came to Mickey Mouse, the line up was way too long to wait for a pose with the character.

Embarking on the Jaws ride, fearful of what's to come.

Hanging out with some of the locals.

Time to head back to the cold temerpatures and snow in Terrace. Good bye to the blue sky and sunshine for 4 weeks.

A group of screamers enjoying themselves on the Splash Mountain ride.

Turning 40 really isn't that bad....I now have plenty of time to think of my 50th adventure :)

Band performing

2011-11-09T16:45:00.000-08:00

An evening of entertainment put on by the Skeena band. Codi has been learning to play the piccolo this term and improving on her flute techniques.

Looking a little apprehensive but ready to perform.

The year 9/10 band sounds really good and it's only the beginning of the year. I'm sure they'll be amazing by the time they go on band tour.

Lillooet

2011-11-08T17:48:00.000-08:00

A long road trip to another area of BC called Lillooeet. 13 hours in the truck from Terrace and if I'm to be honest I probably slept for at least 50% of the trip.

Sunrise was a pink sky delight.

Around the bend the snow was beginning to line the roadside and vegetation.

Some of the mountains had an icing top of snow already coating them.

Rob attempting to entertain me and keep me awake for at least part of the journey :)

It was glorious to see blue sky above us and dry roads to follow.

The mountains look amazing this time of year, clearly forming their silhouettes and separate to the rivers and fields - something that isn't as visible in winter.

The dry side of the roads with the mountains displaying the green trees reminds me of the drive in and out of Bungendore.

Snippets of snow along our path over taking what is left of autumn.

Known as the centre of BC, Lillooet takes the cake for being surrounded by mountains. This sleepy town is nestled by the river and hidden by amazing mountains. The mountains seem a lot barer than those in Terrace.

From the driest mountain to the snow capped mountain, all of which make the truck look miniature in comparison.

During our short stay there was very little traffic in form of pedestrians or vehicles along these hushed streets.

Too quiet for my liking.

You could be fooled into believing this is a gorgeous summers day but turn the other way and the snow reminds you of just what season we are heading into.

The road in and out of Lillooet is winding and hairy at times. One of the 'S' bends holds an eerie turn, 90 degrees one way and then again the other way.

I was keen to get out and take photos of the truck with the trailer weaving its way through this tunnel.

A very dry and barren area of BC and only a few hours from Vancouver.

From a dry and barren Lillooet to a wet and white Prince George.

Something to look forward to in Terrace in the upcoming weeks!!

Halloween

2011-11-01T22:11:00.000-07:00

Halloween fever has hit Terrace and Codi is no exception. From afternoon dress ups for band, to weekend parties and school dress up days - let's not forget an evening of trick or treating in very cold temperatures! I'm still trying to analyse the purpose of this event. School children hyped up beyond belief on candy and work is well and untruly forgotten.

Alex's teenage Halloween party was an all nighter, lots of dancing and laughing...possibly other inclusions I'd prefer to turn a blind eye.

Rob and I went to a Halloween dance put on by the Soul Professors Saturday night and met up with a group of friends. If you need a reason to visit Terrace the Soul Professors would be it. Fabulous band, highly talented, great performers, amazing entertainers.

Friends at the dance dressed in a variety of costumes. Jody, who is one of my support workers and absolutely amazing, and Chris took their daughters to the dance. The girls had a wonderful time on and off the dance floor.

Rob and I with Mary and Kelly. Cory, a friends son, in the background as the chef.

Dorothy was Wendy and the bumble bee was Stephanie.

The room was decorated in black and orange with lots of cobwebs, spiders, coffins and rats of the plastic kind.

Dean as the pirate and Judy as his exotic parrot.

The band dressed in a variety of costumes including zombies.

Everyone was in the spirit of dressing up for the evening. Keeping it on the simple front Rob went as Vincent Van Gogh and I his easel, couldn't get much simpler than that!

From young to not so young many people became involved in this event, even decorating their houses and lawns. Candy sales I'm sure would definitely have outdone those at Easter.

Skeena Secondary School was in the spirit of Halloween with teachers and students dressing up. Codi was the female version of the mad hatter and was the overall school winner for best costume.

Down at Ferry Island they had the road lined with Jack-O-Lanterns. There are some extremely artistic people in Terrace.

So many Jack-O-Lanterns lining the path.

Enjoying the brisk evening, caught by surprise.

How amazing do these look. Some locals head down there early evening and light the candles to entertain the rest of us on our evening stroll along the Ferry Island path.

Visiting Bill and Betty's

2011-10-19T12:51:00.000-07:00

We went out to Bill and Betty's on Friday night much to Codi's delight as she really enjoys entertaining the younger audience. Lola is Lana and Clarke's daughter, Rob's younger sister.

Lola turns 1 on 17th October, she is a bundle of energy and very entertaining.

Ava is Rob's youngest brother Paul's daughter. Very cute.

Hard to tell who is camera shy.

Rob's brother Wilf is in town for a short time, with his wife and son Thomas. Megan and Thomas really enjoy hanging out together.

Lola reminds me of Codi, she loves the outdoors and would prefer to be wandering outside than playing inside.

Paul was whipping up a tasty dessert for us all with the support of Betty and Lana.

Monday night and everyone was there for the Thanksgiving dinner. Bill enjoying a moment with his granddaughter Lola who turned 1 on this very day.

It was a gathering of very young to not quite so young anymore. Keith and Rina had returned from their trip to the island and Wilf was still in town.

Bill's brother John joined our Turkey feast and Clarke was able to get away from the shop in time for some thanksgiving cheer and happy birthday wishes.

Ava looking very cute.

We started with lots of great nibblies including smoked fish.

Ending the evening with a song and a cake for Lola's first birthday.

Lola seemed to really enjoy this sweet delight.

The granddaughters certainly love their Grandpa. Ava enjoying the attention.

Time to open presents. Lana helps Lola unwrap her gifts.

Clarke sneaks in a cuddle on this busy evening.

Thomas and Megan enjoying hanging out together.

Kitimaat Village

2011-10-16T15:51:00.000-07:00

The morning was spent boosting the Terrace economy, and Codi was more than willing to model her new boots...another pair to add to the existing pile.

With hints of sunshine still evident Rob and I decided to take a walk along the "Beach-side" of Kitimaat Village.

We had a brief stop at the mariner before making our way to the Totem Poles that commenced the trek.

These poles have the most interesting carvings on them, ones which would have taken quite some time to perfect.

We had a local companion accompany us out to the point of our walk. She was an extremely playful and friendly dog. Codi would've loved to have come on this venture.

The edges of the beach are bundled with washed up logs and debris.

Along the walk we came across an old cemetry. Some of these tombstones are dated 1898.

You can see the First Nations culture clearly in the carvings that top the tombstones.

We spotted a good looking couple along the way and thought we best take a photo to capture the memory of them on the trail with us. Beanie's are back on our heads, the temperature is dropping more and more everyday.

Our companion loved sticks and loved the water. The water was too cold for me!

This beach is a lot calmer than many, if not all, that I am accustomed to.

A moment to relax.

Waterfalls were hidden in amongst the vegetation.

A few more steep climbs with locals leaving some nice thick rope for the adventurous to use.

This waterfall was gushing with more verocity than the last.

A skeleton of a deer lay to the side, still displaying its stature.

It won't be long now until these grounds are hidden by the landing of crisp new flurries.

At the point of our walk.

The flora and fauna provide interesting images to create memories of my journeys and adventures in and around Terrace.

Thanksgiving weekend

2011-10-16T15:19:00.000-07:00

OK so we were supposed to spend one day eating turkey and pumpkin pie however we've decided to celebrate the feast side of Thanksgiving a week late, though we did have an amazing long weekend.

With Codi hanging out at a friends Rob and I decided to head to the hot springs up to the Nass Valley, and the day was just perfect for such an adventure.

Autumn is clearly on display.

A couple of brief photo stops along the way to ensure I captured the season change as vividly as possible.

From one season and quickly into another. Winter is fast approaching with fresh snow on the distant mountains.

The sky changed from dark black to summer blue. It was the right weather to get out and about in Terrace.

The Nass Valley Fisheries opened up to the fast flowing river.

The cottonwood trees have a really thick and chunky bark surrounding them. Not quite as amazing as those huge fig trees North of Australia.

Almost a squishy step, lucky escape.

The white solution is caused by the hot spring run off.

The hot spring is extremely hot, you need to channel a pipe or two from the cold stream into the hot spring before entering. It's quite a shallow pool but definitely worth indulging, even with the slight scent in the air.

Rob was organising the pipes to run in from the cold stream.

On the way back to Rosswood there was a chubby black bear on view.

The next day Rob and I went on a hike up what he calls "Goat Mountain". The scenery is amazing. You can see all the way around to the surrounding mountains, and the day was just superb for the outing.

A spectacular array of colours, from the white crisp snow capped mountains to the deciduous trees.

As autumn slowly dissipates winter can be seen rolling in.

This image makes the path look flat, however it was quite steep and in areas we used a rope to climb up!

This image is a touch of how steep the walk was.

The colours are changing everywhere, low on the ground to the tips of the trees.

The valley below, to the right, is home to Rosswood where Rob's parents live.

Great view from up above and we were lucky enough to have the sun sneak in and out from behind the clouds.

The terrain changed as we climbed higher and higher, looking more and more like Alpine vegetation.

For those with wonderful eyesight, possibly a very strong magnifying glass and lots of time on your hands, the white spot is a mountain goat!

This plant carries delicious berries, ground blueberries. The side of one of the mountain sections was covered in this plant. The berries are tiny, you would need thousands to bake one family pie.

Keep out the magnifying glass, another white dot, or mountain goat!!

Magnificent view, great picture, what more can I say xx

OK, put down the magnifying glass, you can actually make out this goat if you look really hard.

The top of goat mountain is behind the cloud. This shows just how diverse this mountain is.

Mum, don't panic about the hair, it was really windy, yes I need a haircut, all will be fixed before returning home :) Love you Mum xx

The rock formation makes it look like there is a bear there keeping lookout.

Steep decent for a quick getaway, one path I'd rather not take.

The first signs of winter snow.

The birds were enjoying the cooler climate at the top of the mountain.

These mountains look even more treacherous with the snow coating the terrain.

Heading back down.

The name of the mountain is actually Wesach Mountain, also known as Goat Mountain by the locals.

A mother and cub grazing in one of the paddocks close by Bill and Betty's.

The mother was quite curious and kept an open ear out in protection of her cub.

Codi is now 14

2011-10-10T20:33:00.000-07:00

On the 3rd of October we quietly celebrated Codi's 14th birthday. For the first time in her short 14 years her birthday fell on a school day. Funnily enough it would have been on a school day if we were home also as the holidays ended earlier this year.

Dressed in her new blue jeans and trendy jumper she headed off to school.

The day was bleak though this didn't dampen Codi's spirits as most days in Terrace have looked similar to this image.

On the far mountains you can see the first fall of snow.

Terrace mountain was still looking green but not for long.

The dollar store here in Terrace also supplies party goods and I just couldn't help myself. An array of colourful helium balloons set the scene.

School was followed by rehearsals for the musical "Hairspray", then home to celebrate.

Codi enjoyed opening her gifts in the afternoon.

She spent many a moment studying her new kobo and downloading books.

Dinner was a tasty treat of Thai chicken.

Dessert was a delicious cream cake with strawberry layers, with thanks to a local supermarket. Another first, I didn't cook the cake this year!!

After an eventful day and evening it was time to take her balloons and head for bed. It's great to be 14.

The close proximity of bears

2011-09-25T15:45:00.000-07:00

Stewart is about a 4 hour drive from Terrace and on the border of Hyde Alaska. We took a trip up through the winding roads in hope of viewing some grizzly bears feeding off the salmon in the river.

Along the way we saw a few black bears grazing on the side of the road,

or taking a walk across the road.

Some of them even ran alongside of the vehicles passing by.

The weather in Stewart and Hyde is quite wet all year round making it the perfect area to see more splendid waterfalls.

There is a lot of low lying cloud about, rivers that entwine and mountains that surround every bend and every crossing.

Still in Canada yet so close to Hyde, Alaska.

The scenery is more breathtaking when you are standing right there.

With the weather a little damp we crossed over into the USA.

The view was much the same with the mist hanging over the river and the paddocks a luscious green.

We were able to see the salmon swimming in the stream as we approached the viewing deck.

Seagulls were feasting on the salmon left behind by the bears.

A black bear enjoyed the berries on offer at the top of the cliff edge. He also kept us entertained while we patiently waited for the grizzly bears.

After waiting quite a few hours the weather dampened and unfortunately we weren't appropriately dressed to wait for the grizzly show. We took an early departure but have since been told they put on quite a show when they did turn up!

On the way home we stopped to take photos of the glaciers.

There beside the road was a large black bear feasting on the vegetation. We pulled in right beside him and watched for about 15 minutes. He was unfazed by our presence and was a joy to watch.

With the bear less than 2 metres away we were able to get some nice photos.

We'll be back for the grizzly bears another year.

MONTREAL

2011-08-23T13:18:00.000-07:00

The summer weather in Montreal was hot and humid. We were lucky enough to get some reprieve with a few cooler days and that lovely breeze off the ocean. Verdun is only a few subway stops to downtown Montreal or Old Montreal, a great location though an older area.

Our first event was the Lion King Musical which was highly entertaining, the costumes were impressive and those wearing them very talented.

After the show we took a walk around the cultural area of Montreal.

In the afternoon it was a stroll along the river.

We stopped at one of the local parks to test out the climbing facilities.

This was our home for the week.

The next day we climbed Mount Royal which gave us a view that looked out over Montreal. The climb took us up more than 300 stairs. A great way to start the day.

For lunch we stopped at a quaint cafe that made the most delicious crepes.

After spending a day wandering Montreal and catching up on some movies it was time to get active again.

We headed out to the rock climbing centre where Codi spent a few hours testing her skills.

The next stop was the Biodome centre, an innovative way to introduce visitors to different climates and wildlife. This is very open and so much better than a regular zoo visit.

On our way o O'Noir.

Next stop was a restaurant called O'Noir. This restaurant is in pitch black, you cannot see a thing. Your waiters and waitresses are blind and customers experience a brief moment of what it would be like to have lost your sight. The service was outstanding and the experience was unforgettable. Definitely something I would do again.

We spent a day walking around Old Montreal which is spectacular. The buildings have you almost believing you are in Paris.

Many carriages were lining the streets eager to take tourists for a stroll through these gorgeous streets.

There were some well kept gardens and mazes nestled in amongst the streets.

Of course like most well laid out gardens there were plenty of water fountains.

The smallest and oldest Cathedral.

Crafted boats were hanging from the ceiling, possibly a representation of those that travelled the seas to arrive in Montreal.

A walk along the promenade.

There is a theme park in Old Montreal located just on the other side of the bridge. Codi and I opted out of going to La Ronde as the line ups during the summer break minimise your opportunities of experiencing all the park has to offer.

Where ever you went in Old Montreal the food was delicious.

We visited the science museum and had a wonderful time playing with the various experiments they had on display. Our first adventure was in the Indiana Jones display were Codi created her own artifact.

In the technology centre she created a news report on going into outer space.

Chairs of nails are as uncomfortable as they look!

The human size bubble.

Wind tunnels.

Trying to get your brain to reverse itself is not always easy.

My favourite display would have to be the thinning mirrors....

Though Codi found the bottom enlarging mirrors hilarious.

Back outside and the sun was still shining.

Another gorgeous little corner cafe for dinner.

We attended the sound and light show at Notre Dame.

The artwork that lines this majestic building is beyond believable. A must do for all travellers.

On the streets again and heading to our next experience...

A ghost walk through Montreal. This is an amazing way to learn the history of a town. Quite gory in description and highly entertaining.

The Mount Robson Cross has a intriguing historical story to it, you'll have to experience it for yourself.

It was time to pack up and head back to Terrace to enjoy the lovely wet summer with the locals and to plan the next adventure.

CRUISE TO ALASKA

2011-08-10T16:43:00.000-07:00

On our first evening we tried our luck at bingo and met up with some friends for dinner. I was surprised at how smooth the sailing was and I enjoyed almost every minute, if you disregard the 2nd night and the sea sickness that struck suddenly after hitting what I considered were strong winds. Recovery was quick :) Codi had sea legs for the entire cruise, not even a flinch of falling ill to the inside passage. I'm far from ready to hit the open sea.

Sunset on the first evening. We were lucky enough to have great weather in terms of very little rain and days with blue skies.

Our travelling companions, John, Donna, Tom, myself, Dave and Linda. Linda's husband is off checking out the ship.

The air was crisp and very refreshing.

Even though these waters look calm there was one very brief moment where the ship was rocking and the lullaby was far from being heard!

We had a room with a view, or 2 views. Whenever the Captain advised us of Whales in our nearby vicinity we were quick to hop up on the ledge and view from our own personal lookout.

The mountains were mystical.

Our first whale sighting as one dove into the water flicking its tail.

One of the ships many pools had a roof that opened up to let us enjoy the sunshine. It stayed covered over if the weather was a little too chilly.

Arriving in Juneau.

The capital of Alaska is a small thriving town - well at least in the summer when the cruise ships dock.

Codi and I boarded the Juneau gondola and headed to the top of the mountain.

The marine mist was quickly rolling in though we were lucky enough to get some great shots and see some wonderful views before it came.

The mountain, like all in B.C, was lush with green vegetation.

There were many walking trails which went around the mountain and back down into town.

Greeting us on the wilderness path was a marmot.

A view of our cruise ship from up above.

The nature reserve was home to this injured eagle.

As the marine mist rolled in our ship began to disappear.

It took all of one day for Codi to find the Teen Club and then it was impossible to find Codi!

Codi and her friend Chris from California.

Juneau was situated at the bottom of the surrounding mountains. Without the summer trading, and more specifically the cruise ships, the town would struggle to survive.

A local splashing around in the waters below the ship and enjoying the abundance of salmon.

As the sun began to descend our time in Juneau came to an end.

A view from the bottom of the gondola.

It was time to board the ship and make our way to Skagway.

Skagway was more open and, within the town itself, host to a flatter terrain than that of Juneau. Codi and I boarded a tour to take us up to the Yukon. This was hands down the highlight of my trip. The trip to the Yukon and the ventures into the Yukon showed me what natural beauty is all about. I fell in love with this Province.

The dock in Skagway.

The animals within these towns seem used to tourists and are quite willing to pose for us.

Many of my cruise ship companions chose to board the train to White Pass and learn all about the Gold Rush.

Codi and I made our way from Skagway Alaska to B.C Canada and finally to the Yukon, Canada. We were able to see glaciers on our trip.

The terrain was extremely diverse, from barren mountains to those with a high density of trees, into rocky settings.

There were open plains with streams of running water that reflected the most gorgeous of blue colours.

The closer we came to the Yukon, the better weather.

Our first activity was to canoe on Spirit Lake.

Thank goodness for Poppy's beanie.

The wind made paddling a challenge though it wasn't strong enough to stop us from enjoying the activity.

Spirit Lake is situated below Caribou Mountain which used to be home to thousands of moose and caribou. Unfortunately during the Gold Rush these animals were a source of food and quickly depleted in numbers. Now there are approximately 400 caribou residing on the mountain and it's taken over 150 years for these numbers to rise.

The lake was quite shallow and in some areas you could touch what looked to be a sandy bottom but was actually a mixture of crushed mineral and rock that reflected a brilliant green colour.

The colour of the lake changed as the sun ducked in and out from behind the clouds.

Our next adventure was a horse ride through the scenic Watson River Valley.

The horses were eager for the ride to begin.

I was lucky enough to be riding Taffy who was quite a poser.

Codi got to ride Wyatt, a cheeky horse with a lovely temperament.

The Valley wound in and around the mountains. It had an abandoned railway line running through it. This line was used back in the days of the Gold Rush.

The terrain in the valley was quite diverse.

An old log cabin used during the Gold Rush and still standing today, though I don't think I'd like to test out just how useful it really is.

The trail edged along some steep cliffs.

There were 6 of us on the trail ride. Some new to horse riding and some with little experience. Our horses were definitely accommodating to our skills, or lack of skills.

At the end of the ride our horses were given a treat. Wyatt definitely wasn't camera shy.

On the way back to Skagway we stopped to take some tourist shots. Our first photo opportunity was of the Canadian desert in the Yukon called Carcross Desert.

It's something you have to see to believe, a desert in the middle of these mountains, surrounded by fast flowing rivers...a natural phenomenon.

The town was named Caribou Crossing. The problem locals had was that their mail would be delivered to every other town with Crossing in it so they decided to shorten it to Carcross. Since then, apparently, there hasn't been any trouble with receiving mail.

Our next stop was Bove Island. An island situated in the middle of this body of water.

We were then lucky enough to be notified by an RV in front of us that there was a black bear eating berries on the side of the road. Of course we stopped to watch and take photos.

He was a big black bear with a delicacy of berries surrounding him.

The winding road leading us back into Skagway and across the border.

So quickly the sky changed colour and the vegetation gave way to rocky mountains.

Around another bend and it's blue sky all the way.

Heading out of the Yukon and into B.C for our final Canadian leg before we touched down once again in Alaska U.S.A.

Waterfalls were running through many cracks in the earth, some of which were caused by destructive earthquakes.

This would have to be one of the coldest places on earth, right here beside this sign. Unfortunately the sign is blocking the gorgeous Glacier right behind it.

More Glaciers atop of high mountains.

The crack in the earth is a reminder of the earthquake that woke up this sleepy valley.

Engineers designed an earthquake proof bridge, it hasn't been put to the test as yet and I'd like to be far away when it is.

Coming down the mountain we came across Bridal Falls.

Back in Skagway for a tour of the town.

Captain Moore's log cabin. He spent some time here in Skagway enjoying the peaceful environment when all of a sudden the gold rush hit, lonely no more was he.

This unusual building is decorated by sticks all along its outer walls - we didn't venture inside to see if it was decorated the same inside.

The White Pass rail tour is taken by 800,000 people every year, in the summer, at over $130 per person. Certainly money to be made in rail.

Codi posing as an exhausted prospector of the Gold Rush.

From Skagway we headed to Glacier Bay.

The water was so still and surrounded by a quiet bay.

The glaciers were around every bend, in different forms, with some progressing forward and some diminishing.

The clouds concealed a few that were right up the top of the mountains.

There is no comparison to our ship and this enormous glacier.

We watched as parts of the glacier broke off and became a part of the water in the Bay.

Some glaciers went back for miles.

Around every bend the rocks of ice were evidence of another glacier.

After our day in Glacier Bay it was time for our formal dinner. Codi and I decided to dine together this evening.

Our next stop was in Ketchican.

With four cruise ships docked this town was bustling.

I quite liked Ketchican. It was my favourite town in Alaska, the people were friendly, the weather was warm and the town was tidy. I'm not sure what people are saying when they complain about the rain in Ketchican!
It was hard to believe that it rains nearly 350 days a year when we had such wonderful weather :)

After spending the day walking around Ketchican and enjoying the locals, and the summer workers, the Teens Club got ready for their night at the bar creating mocktails followed by their very own prom.

A view of Ketchican from our room. These towns we docked in push jewellery sales, particularly diamonds. Apparently they have huge savings and the tourists flock in to make their purchases. The streets are lined with so many jewellery shops, one beside the other down an entire street around the corner and up another block.

Big foot was out and about on this glorious day.

The Volendam sailing proud.

Many more cruise ships in the harbor.

A view of the town from a deck on the ship.

From Ketchican it was a day and an evening of sailing back into Vancouver.

Sunsets on the water just got better every evening.

There were many activities and shows to go to on the cruise. Most of them didn't allow photography. This one particular evening was a Dutch chocolate extravaganza.

Karaoke was on every evening.

The view from the deck was always breathtakingly beautiful.

One of the chef's sculptured some ice for all to see.

Once the skies opened up so did the roof of the upper deck.

Snow capped mountains were a regular sight.

Linda turned 60 on the last night of the cruise. Happy Birthday Linda.

The stewards put on quite a show for us.

We dined with 10 on this evening.

As we dined the whales came out.

The stewards sung and danced throughout the dinner.

They sung happy birthday to Linda.

A couple from a table close by were eager to bring their happy birthday wishes Linda's way.

The final evening and the weather remained still.

After a week of cruising it was time for farewells.

The most magnificent sunset was left till last.

7 fabulous days of cruising has come to an end. Time to repack for our next adventure....